MTV's The Challenge: Vendettas cast to feature a bunch of new players

Well, that’s not actually the theme of the 31st season of MTV’s The Challenge, but it might as well be. The Challenge: Vendettas will premiere on Jan. 2 and include a bunch of new players, including some from Big Brother and MTV U.K.’s Geordie Shore and Ex on the Beach.

Of course, many familiar faces will be in the mix as well — Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio and Cara Maria Sorbello wouldn’t miss this! — as 28 challengers assemble in Spain to “pursue personal vendettas against one another,” according to the network. And they’ll be going it alone — only one winner will come out on top, competing for a “final prize that has the potential to exceed $500,000.”

We’ll let MTV explain: “The winners of each challenge will receive money for their individual bank accounts, but once players are eliminated, their money is added to the final prize pot. In a major game twist this season, ‘Grenades’ will be awarded to players surviving grueling elimination rounds, giving them a chance to get back at anyone else in the house they may have a vendetta against. With everyone out for themselves, stealing an entire bank account from another player, forcing players to be shackled together during another challenge or selecting players to stay up the entire night before a challenge, will surely shake up the competition and heighten the drama, doubt, and deception in the house.”

T.J. Lavin will be back to host — in a handsome suit, no less, as evidenced by the exclusive trailer above.

As Bananas warns, “I hope you wore protection, ’cause this Challenge is about to get hot,” so here are the 28 challengers who will be duking it out: